SYSTEMATICS OF THE ANDEAN GENUS ACRORIUS KIRSCH (COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE)

The South American genus Acrorius Kirsch is endemic to higher elevatio ns of the central and northern Andes. It includes the type species A. puncticollis Kirsch and seven new species described herein: A. sisyphu s from Colombia, A. papallacia, A. andersoni, A. nymphalis and A. cupr inus from Ecuador, and A. pillahuata and A. plicatifrons from Peru. Sp ecies of the genus are recognized by the elytra covered with small tub ercles, each bearing a semi-erect seta. In addition, the body vestitur e consists of seta-like scales and setae; the scrobes are shallow, dir ected toward, but not reaching the eyes; the prothorax is slightly tra nsverse; the elytra are ovate; and the tibiae have a mucro and one spu r. Diagnostic characters, descriptions and illustrations of the genus and new species are given, type localities are mapped, and a key to sp ecies is presented. A cladistic analysis using 26 characters of extern al morphology and genitalia produced three cladograms; successive weig hting resulted in one cladogram. In the cladogram, there are two major monophyletic groups. One of these includes A. puncticollis, A. sisyph us, and A. papallacta, and the other, the remaining species, which fol low the sequence A. nymphalis, A. andersoni, A. cuprinus, A. pillahuat a, and A. plicatifrons. The relationship of Acrorius to the subantarct ic genus Lamiarhinus Morrone indicates the colonization of the central and northern Andes by elements from the Austral region.